🛠 Connect the Smart Display Module to the network for digital signage

Objectives

This tutorial guides beginners in configuring the network connection of the Raspberry Pi Smart Display Module. The goal is to allow digital signage to receive content updates remotely, without physical intervention on the screen. We will verify basic connectivity and prepare the module for 24/7 use in a commercial signage environment.

Required Hardware

• A Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 (CM5) installed on the Smart Display Module.
• A professional display compatible with Intel Smart Display Module (SDM) connected to the module.
• Wired Ethernet connection (recommended for 24/7 reliability) or Wi-Fi.
• A USB keyboard and mouse (for initial configuration if no touch control is active).
• Access to a local network with a DHCP server.

Steps

1. Hardware Preparation: Ensure the CM5 is correctly inserted into the Smart Display Module. Connect the module to a compatible SDM display. Plug the Ethernet cable into the port provided on the module or associated adapter.
2. Startup: Power on the system. The Smart Display Module is designed for silent startup. Wait for the operating system (Raspberry Pi OS) to fully load on the screen.
3. Interface Configuration: Open a terminal (via desktop or SSH connection if configured). Check the active network interface with the command: ip a. Note the assigned IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.10).
4. Connectivity Test: Verify Internet access with the command: ping -c 4 8.8.8.8. If packets respond, the connection is established.
5. Update Client Installation: For dynamic signage, install a synchronization tool. For example, to fetch HTML/video files from a web server, use wget: sudo apt update && sudo apt install wget. Download a test file: wget http://your-server/index.html.

Verification

Launch a browser in kiosk mode (e.g., Chromium) pointing to the downloaded file. Verify that the page displays correctly in 4K. Restart the module (sudo reboot) and confirm that the network connection restores automatically and that the content reloads. Operation must be silent, without manual intervention.

Going Further

Explore integration with Content Management Systems (CMS) compatible with Raspberry Pi 5. You can configure a Python script using the requests library to query an API and refresh the display automatically. Adding an M.2 NVMe storage module will allow caching heavy media locally, reducing network load.